River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1887-05-19
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From 4ur Regular Correspondentl
Washington, May 18th, 1881


for the uses to which it was applied
by the society of the Army of the
Cumberland. 1t had been holding its
eighteenth annual reunion in this city
aud Yesterday had been set apart for
unYeiling the statue of Gen. Garfield.
erected by his old comrades in arms
The sun smiled, the sky was blue, the
air fresh and balmy. the flowers
blOOmed, the trees shaded, and all
nature seemed to cooperate 20 render
the occasion successful. The streets
were thronged with people that want
ell TO see the parade, as many as could
get within sight of the unwilling were
there, and Department clerks were re-
leased at noon. so that those who
wished 10 join the procession might do
so.
The scenes in the vicinity of the
Arlington hotel where the parade
formed We're interesting and reminded
one forcibly of by-gone times. The
aides TO the marshall of the day and the
members of the historic Garfield
Guard of honor and of the Army of
the Cumberland met IN front of the
hotel. where the officers of the pro-
cession were dashing about to the
strains of martial music and the notes
of brass bands. The great hotel was
thronged with men, many of whose
names are household words in this
country for the deeds they did in those
bitter days of the war. Generals
sherman. ROsecTans, Buell., Sheridan,
keifer. Cist. Fullerton. Baird, Bob"
Granger and host of others as gal
liant, ii not as well known, hob
nubbed and guyed each other there
like a lot of school boys.
Gen. Baird. the inspector-gen Of
the Army-or the pTeuX Chevalier
Bayard of the Army-was Respondent
in the full uniform of his rank, but
he was too modest to take advantage
of that statute which would permit
him TO wear the full uniform of a
major-general on such an occasion as
this.
The statue was completely drapPd
in national banner. loosely enfold-
ing the figure and trailing to the gran
tie base. Around the statue stood
military guard and a squad of police.
TO the south of the statue was the
grand stand on which was the ora
tors stand and the seats of honor. At
the close of the opening prayer the
Marine Band played the "Star spangled
Banner. As the last notes died
away the halyards were drawn by the
guard and the lag dropped from the
statue. Then the troops gathered
around the circle and gave military
salute, the light battery in the Capt.
tol grounds rang ont with the national
salute and the Marine Band struck up
the stirring strains of Hail to the
Chief.
The scene was one long to be re-
membered. TIE statue was suddenly
respondent under the direct rays of
tie sun and afforded a striking con-
trast to the more conventional types
of many of the memorials to the pub.
lie mer in tins city. The trees in the
Capitol grounds furnished beautiful
background, the statue was surround
ed by the red coated band and the
radiating circles Of military, the thor
Oughfares approaching the statue were
10y the ranks Of sOldiery,
and ali available space was crowded
by sight-seers. Facing the statue
was the flag draped stand with its
company of distinguished people, vino
arose to their feet in compliment to
the occasion.
1t its center, in a little bower of
palms. stood the President and General
sheridan. Behind them was a group
of ladies of which Mrs. Cleveland was
the center. To her right and left
we're the ladies of the Cabinet and
surrounding them the ladies of the
leading men present, in bright toilets.
Cabinet and eX-Cabinet officers, the
sculptor, the sons of Garfield, the
Supreme Court, Gen. Sherman, Mr..
COrcOran and others.
When the enthusiasm Of the moment
of the unwilling had subsidized and the
saluting cannon had ceased, Gen. Sher
idan stepped forward and introduced
Gen. keifer, the speaker of the day.
After delivering his grafton, the lat
ter, in few words turned over the
statue to Gen. Sheridan, and the
Lieutenant General, addressing the
President eXtempOTaneOuSly asked
MIN, as the representative of the
American people To accept the statue
as a gift to the Nation from the Socie-
~ OF the Army of the Cumberland.
Applause followed this and the PreSi-
dents address of acceptance closed the